Haywood [née Fowler], Eliza (1693?-1756)

The Rash Resolve: or, the Untimely Discovery. A Novel.

London

1724, 1725

"[H]is Image was too deeply impress'd in her Mind, ever to banish it thence, tho' effac'd and blotted by the Memory of his Crimes"

What now could this unhappy Lady do? She was in a Place where she was entirely unacquinted, tho' that she was so, was the only Consolation she had; she had no means of providing for herself and little Family, and when the Charges of her Journey were defrayed, had scarce any Money remaining--No Condition sure was ever so calamitous as her's--Her Spirits had doubtless sunk beneath the weight of Sorrow, which oppress'd her, if the Vigour of her Care for her dear Child had not kept them up. --Something must be thought on for the procuring for him the Necessaries of Life, whatever should become of herself--and thinking nothing too much to do for him, she threw off the fine Lady, endeavour'd to forget whose Daughter she was, and the Hopes she was bred to, and submitted to the meanest, and most servile Offices for Bread. --She took a little Lodging in the cheapest part of the Town, and leaving her Nurse at home to take Care of that which was much dearer to her than all other Consideration, she went every Day to a Convent in that City; where doing Services for the Nuns in the manner of an Out or Lay-Sister, she made a shift to get as much as maintain'd them, tho' in a manner which none who had known her before these Misfortunes came upon her, could have believ'd she could have liv'd to endure. But what will not Love enable one to go through! what Difficulties are so great but Inclination can surmount! She condescended to every thing with Chearfulness, for the sake of Victorinus; and while she fed her longing Eyes with gazing on his Infant-Charms, and clasped the lovely Innocent in her Arms, she thought herself not wretched; and passing all the Night in that sweet Employment, forgot the Hardships of the Day. In spite of the real Coldness with which she had been treated byEmilius, and the monstrous Ingratitude and Baseness she had been made to believe him guilty of, her Soul still confess'd the Graces of his Person; his Image was too deeply impress'd in her Mind, ever to banish it thence, tho' effac'd and blotted by the Memory of his Crimes. The littleVictorinus had Features so perfectly resembling his, that there wanted but Age to make them appear the same; and this Likeness not a little added to the Fondness she otherwise had for him. All the Passion she once had for the Father, was now transmitted to the Son; which join'd to the soft Care which all who are Mothers feel, rais'd her's to the most elevated Pitch that Humanity is capable of being inspir'd with.
(pp. 93-4)

Writing::Blotting Government::Banish

Searching "blot" and "mind" in HDIS (Prose); found again "blot" and "memory"

At least 5 entries in the ESTC (1724, 1725, 1732, 1742).

See The Rash Resolve: or, the Untimely Discovery. A Novel. In Two Parts. By Mrs. Eliza Haywood. (London : printed for D. Browne junr. at the Black-Swan, without Temple-Bar; and S. Chapman, at the Angel in Pall-Mall, 1724). <Link to ESTC>

Text from Secret Histories, Novels and Poems. In Four Volumes. Written by Mrs. Eliza Haywood. (London: Printed [partly by Samuel Aris] for Dan. Browne, jun. at the Black Swan without Temple-Bar ; and S. Chapman, at the Angel in Pall-Mall, 1725). <Link to ESTC>

03/24/2005